Overhead flexible door



April 22, 1958 "A. P. 13m-TER 2,831,537

OVERHEAD FLEXIBLE DooR.

Filed Nov, 2s, 1955 y '6 l 79g /5 f9 5) 5f f ,j 12514 J,

United States Patent@ OVERHEAD FLEXIBLE DOOR Adolph P. Ritter, Chicago, lll. Application November 23, 1955, Serial No. 548,592.

2 Claims. (Cl. 1611-201) The present invention has for its primary object to embody the basic principle of the hinged panel construction disclosed in my Patent No. 2,311,470, of February 16, 1943, in overhead doors for garages and other buildings.

Specifically considered, the present invention may be said to have for objects: the creation of an overhead door composed of any desired number of sections having hinge connections extending across the entire width of the door and serving to allow the door to ex in one direction while preventing flexing `from a at state in the opposite direction; the creation `ofhinge connections that permit the sections to be easily assembled at the time of installing a door; the provision of novel guide roller means carried on the ends of the main hinge bar or pin members; and the provision of means to relieve the guide rollers of a large portion or all of `the weight of the sections that reach overhead, horizontal positions, particularly in the case of wide doors reinforced to prevent sagging at the middle of the sections in the latter positions.

In carrying out my invention I employ sections grooved at their meeting long edges to receive bars extending throughoutthe width of a door and each serving as a hinge pin between two such sections; the parts being shaped to permit the door to serve as a rigid structure under pressure against the outer side thereof when in a llat upright position, while permitting the sections to swing inwardly, `one after ano-ther, when the door is pushed upwardly. i

The rollers on the ends `of the hinge bars run in the conventional tracks or channels. However, additional tracks and `rollers are provided to support or aid in the support of Ithe door `when the sections are in elevated, horizontal position.

The various features of novelty whereby the present invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of the invention and its `various objects and advantages, reference may lbe had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a fragment of a building at a door opening, showing one of my improved doors in place;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing fragments of the building wall and the door;

Fig. 3 is view on a larger scale showing, partly in section and partly in elevation, one of the hinge bars with an attached roller, part of the corresponding vertical track or guide channel, and small fragments of two door sections at their hinge joint;

Fig. 4 is a section online 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. l, on the same scale as Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawing, 6 represents one of any desired number of long rectangular sections of any desired size and construction which, when hinged together, form a sectional door wherein the sections extend crosswise of the door. In such a sectional door the assembly of sep- 2,831,537 Patented Apr. 22, 1958 arate hingedpanel sections has inner and outer faces wherein the sections are movable about an arc between a generally horizontal inwardly directed position and a ver tical plane in which the sections must be substantially rigidly coplanar and present a common outer face.

In the actual structure illustrated, each section comprises a rectangular metal frame '7 into which is set a panel S. The long outer edges of the frame contain undercut grooves or bearing seats 9 extending throughout their length; the grooves being cylindrical sections of more than The 1bearing seats are located in part in lips 10, each protruding a substantial-distance in the plane of its section beyond the rest of that section.

The sections of the door are connected together by long, flat hinge bars 11 each of which is provided with enlarged rounded hinged-pin-like edge portions 12, 12 adapted to fit into the seats in the edges of two door sections arranged edge to edge.

Each hinge bar is provided on one side with a central, longitudinal rib 14 provided with respective outwardly opening grooves along each side between the adjacent portions of the respective rounded edges. It will be observed that the bearing seat grooves in the edges of the panel sec` tions are disposed with their axes substantially in the median plane of the sections. It will also be noted that there is also an additional central inwardly opening groove opposite to said rib and disposed intermediate the cylindrical surfaces of the rib member, which groove may simulta neously receive the edge of the inner face of both panel sections. Thus, the substantial angle may exceed 180 where other mounting means are used. This rib is of such a width that, when the 'bar is inserted in two door sections so as to place the rib on the same side of the door asthe lips 1t), the free edges of these lips contact the rib and stop relative swinging movement of said sections in one direction when the latter lie in the same plane. However, such door sections may -be swung relative to each other in the opposite direction through a substantial angle.

Sectional overhead doors must be provided with rollers adapted to run along suitable stationary tracks or guides and I utilize the hinge bars to support such rollers; the roller units in turn serving to shifting lengthwise. t

i In the arrangement shown, thehinge bars are made somewhat shorter than the width of the door. The door sections are recessed as at 6a, at the ends of the bearing seats 9, to provide room for a cap piate 15 on each end of each hinge bar; these plates being secured to the bars by screws le. A roller 17 lies outwardly from each cap plate and is provided with a stem 19 journalled in the latter.

My improved door is shown as mounted to be shiftable along conventional channel-shaped guides or tracks 19, the vertical legs of which are secured by screws 20 to portions of the structure containing the door opening, A; whereas the ceiling portions 19a of these guides or tracks are horizontal and connected with the vertical legs by curved sections 19h. The two tracks or guides at opposite sides of the door opening must of course, be mounted so that the door will fit between them and extend completely across the door opening. The lower part of each vertical leg, below the line 19, is a separate piece which is not secured in place until the door has vbeenvassembled, as is now common practice.

The rollers 17 do not support any of the weight of those sections of the door that are in vertical positions at any given time; but, when the door is open, the weight of all horizontal sections must be borne by such rollers. This latter condition is unsatisfactory in the case of large, heavy doors and I have therefore provided additional means for supporting the sections while they are overhead, whenever required. Such means includes a horiprevent the hinge bars from 3 zontal track 21 below and inwardly from each main track or guide portion 19a, together with rollers 22 mounted on the inner side of the door in position to ride on the auxiliary guides or tracks when the door is opened.

AnyY suitable vsupports for `the horizontal guides or tracks may be provided. In the arrangement shown,` both main horizontal and auxiliary track members .at each side of the door opening are secured to a horizontal vbeam B; the auxiliary tracks being angle irons 'one flange .of each lying iiat against the side of the beam. The ysaid ilange contains vertical slots 21a `through which pass Screws 23 that enter the beam. Thus tracks or guides 21 may be adjusted easily in the vertical direction to achieve ythedesired distribution of the load between main and auxiliary tracks.

The door may be assembled and mounted in its nal position of use in either of'two ways.

The tracksor guidesmust iirst be installed, with 'the'exception of the lowerrnost sections yof the vertical legs of the main tracks. it' the space within .the garage or other structure permits, the door sections may be .progressively` assembled, one hinge bar after another being slipped lengthwise into the seats between consecutive sections and lockedl in place by attaching the corresponding roller units; one section after another pushing previously connected sections upward. Or, if desired, the door may be cornpletely assembled and then be slid asta unit into track or guide system. in either case the tinal step is the securing in place of the lower, detachable parts of the vertical `legs of the main tracks or guides.

It will of course be understood that any-conventional or desired spring or other balancing system for the door should be provided.

it will be seen that when the door is closed it resists pressure from without as though it were a single rigid panel, but liexes readily as each hinge joint reaches the curved guide means 191 upon pushing the door up to open it.

While it is not essential that the door sections be in the form of framed panels, that is the preferred construction. In such a structure the frame may, for example, be aluminum; the panel be liber glass, wood or any other desired material; and the hinge bars be steel to provide strength and durability. p

By providing the auxiliary overhead tracks or guides,

the door may be designed most effectively to prevent sagi ging in the middle When lying overhead, independently of the main guide and roller system which might otherwise be overloaded.

vI claimt, i

1. In an assembly of separate hinged panel sections, such as in an overhead door having inner and outer faces wherein the sections are movable about an arc between a generally horizontal inwardly directed position and a vertical plane in which the sections must be substantially rigidly coplanar and presenta common outer face, said sections having substantially coextensive closely adjacent transverse edges of substantial thickness, the improvement of said edges having opposed similar recessed cylindrical section bearing-seat grooves extending lengthwise thereof and with the axes of said grooves disposed substantially in the median plane ofthe sections, `said panel section edges respectively having retaining lips along said hinge seat grooves as extensions of the outer face portion of the sections; and a hinge bar connecting the sections, said hinge bar having a pair of spaced coextensive rounded hinge-pin-like edges complementally fitting slidably rotatably in said seat groovesvand separated :bya body hav ing a narrow longitudinal spacer Arib projecting toward said outer face and provided with respective outwardly opening groovesfalong each side between the adjacent'portions ofthe respective rounded edges, said body having an additional groove disposed opposite to said ri-b and opening inwardly; said lips rotatably -interlockingly engaging said rounded hinge ba-r edges, said lips extending into said outwardly opening bar groovesandat their free edges contacting said rib to maintain the sectionsin said vertical plane, the inner face portions of said section-edges being set back relative to the lips to clearsaid 'bar and in such la manner as to be simultaneously receivableV in saidadditional groove to enable free swinging of the sections about said arc for at least with respect to 1eachother.

2. An assembly as dened in rclairnl wherein roller units are carried by the ends of the hinge bar and the roller units have means to prevent the hinge `bars vfrom shifting lengthwise.

References Cited in the tile of Ithis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,408,076 Claveria Feb. 28, 1922 1,841,898 Lehman Jan. 19 1932 2,116,847 Pilcher May 10, 19318 2,549,301 Ferrell et al. ....Apn 17, 19511 FOREIGN PATENTS V567,822 France Dec. 12, 1922 505,101 Canada Aug. 17, 1954 

